Obama to cut medical benefits for active, retired military, not union workers

Obama likes to play the Union game. Look at what he did with the pensions and benefits of Non Union management retirees from Delphi. Union pensions and benefits were fully preserved.

Regarding this case... On shining light is that this proposal for next year and after the elections has to be approved by Congress.... I see this thing as dead in the water. It clearly shows where Obama keeps his priorities... Just another reason NOT to vote for him...

Check out what he wants to Do to FEMA in an era where FEMA has been pushed to its limits.

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Only desperation can explain resurrecting stories from 9 months ago.


But I do love how Conservatives scream that we are spending way too much money and we need to make cuts, but then when cuts are proposed, they cry.

It's funny.

reply to post by TDawgRex


Do we need more people enlisting? We're drawing down forces in Afghanistan.

Personally, I'm more worried that these cuts are going to affect the people that have served in Iraq and Afghanistan that have PTSD.

I predict we will see more mass shootings, a dramatic spike in male on female domestic violence, divorces, suicides and unemployment.

That's where I'm worried the cuts will be felt the most, people getting out of the military

You know why Unions are able to keep their health care benefits? It is because they fight damn hard politically with both the government and private business to keep everything Unions have fought to ensure for the worker.

With that said, if someone serves in the armed forces, and even more so if they had to go to war, they should get healthcare benefits. And as far as seniors go; of course society has a duty to take care of our elders.

Sadly, groups which claim to fight to keep benefits for seniors don`t stand up for seniors like they should. All too often they take money, which seniors give them to fight for healthcare and other things seniors should be getting, and spend it on lobbying for the private sector to have more control over senior`s healthcare.

The men and women in the military get pissed on by the government because they expect the government to hold up their end of the deal. A capitalist government like the US Federal Government should never be assumed to hold up their end of any agreement of the social contract. It is tragic, but people who serve in the military must, not only fight for the nation, but fight to get social benefits of serving the government once they come home. Everything is a fight when it comes to a government like the US Federal Gov. In America, the political class serves the ruling capitalist class.

The common people have two choices in such a situation. They can overthrow the political class and deal directly with the ruling capitalist class(which could lead to a very long standing fight which could make society very unstable for a while). Or go after the capitalist class directly from the get go and take control of the capital which the capitalist class uses to control the political class; which will also have unexpected results.

Either way, the common people must fight for their economic rights.

reply to post by elouina


The second paragraph in the article you cited explains that Obama's motivation for cutting benefits was to switch them over to his own Health Care Reform act. Obamacare, that is.

Undoubtedly an unpopular move, as benefits to veterans are overwhelmingly unpopular. However it is minuscule compared to Republican blockades and filibusters of veterans job bills and benefit expansions.

reply to post by freedomwv


Your right about unions.

People don't like unions because they aren't in a union. They feel "cheated" that some of us have organizations that we ourselves organized, pay to, and that have our backs.

These same supporters think it's not "fair", and that somehow they are entitled to the same treatment. They feel this way because they are really just mad at themselves. They are mad at themselves because they can't figure out how to organize in such a way that fights corporate hegemony.

Its irgonic that those same people that dislike unions generally change their tune when they get a unionized job.

It's pretty funny to watch new hires rant and rave about how much they hate unions.

A few months later I see them as union stewards, glowingly trying to motivate more people to participate in the union.

reply to post by MystikMushroom


I haven’t been in a Union in over a decade but what you just said is absolutely true.

BTW this article is nothing but a scare piece on something that happened 9 months ago in perspective Romney could have made three 47% speeches in that time. Not to mention the benefits lost would have been picked up under Obamacare so nothing was being lost it would have just been a paperwork shuffle.
Probably a pain in the ___ but nothing to freak about. This is a desperate article.

reply to post by Grimpachi


Oops! I hit the submit button before I typed anything!

I know I'll get railed for saying that about unions...

Look, here's a really simple example. When you were in school there always was "the cool kids". They had it all, friends, parties...they got away with stuff.

Then you had the "non-cool kids".

Now the non-cool kids hated the cool kids, but secretly wished they could join them (despite how much they would argue to the contrary).

Look, there are things I hate about my union, things I wished it did or didn't do. I also don't like how it shelters poor work performance. This is why when I am on a hiring pannel, we look to hire the best of the best, becausee know we might get stuck with these people for a whille.

Ideally, we'd hire only the best. We try and for the most part it works out pretty well. We have low turn over, high productivity, and high worker satisfaction. My employees are willing to work harder because they know how lucky they are, and feel protected from unfair workplace discrimination.

It drives me insane when I hear the local morning show (who are huge Republicans) rant and rave about "Liberal Agendas" -- then turn around and announce on the hour that the local IBEW union is sponsoring their news segment. They go nuts and shout together at the same time: "Local XXXX IBEW! ALRIGHTTTTT!".

I guess who ever pays the bills gets the accolades.

Originally posted by TDawgRex
reply to post by ChuckNasty

 

You are correct in many ways. Once you have the time in, the pay does start to equal out.

Regarding trimming the fat? I would revamp the R&D system that is currently in place. That would save a lot of money.

As a retired E7, I can live on my retirement, but that's about it. I can make ends meet. But should a emergency arise, it could wipe me out financally.

I do have another job though and am living comfortably, but if I didn't have that job, a lot of my lifes plans would be put on hold, probably indefinately.

Wow. My husband is retired, E6. I would not think that your retirement is a whole lot more than my husbands, which is about $1400 a month. I am amazed you can live off of that.... That is barely a mortgage payment!

reply to post by ChuckNasty


The US Constitution allows for the US Govt to collect taxes to raise an Armed Forces.
You keep citing Teachers and Police as if the US Govt (Federal) has some sort of place in determining their pay and benefits. They do not.
You are comparing Apples and Oranges.
BTW, I spent 22 years active duty, i do not recall my daughters High School years because i was constantly deployed 6 months gone 2-3 months back home then gone again.
I'm sure her classmates who had parents that were Teachers and Policemen, they remember their daughters HS time period and enjoyed coming home at night to spend time with their families.
I dont complain because i chose my career path, but please dont compare my sacrifices with those of others in local government.
I did retire at 22 years instead of going to 24 like i had planned because the deployment tempo was getting too far out of hand.

I want to see him cut it all, in fact I want him to take as much as he possibly can from every walk of life I don't care if its granny on her death bed and only needs 5 more mins to say goodbye, PULL THE PLUG. That way when he's found hanging, we wont have to question why or wait for impeachment.

reply to post by CaptAmerika

Apple and Oranges?

Thought the topic was cutting medical benefits for active, retired military and not union workers. Teachers and cops are unionized. Military is not. I'm for cutting the needless spending in the Fed govt. Those teachers and cops raise our children and protect our homeland.

With your 22 years active time, how many times did you recall getting new furniture for your section - or spending end of year funds on crap, just so they don't lose the money they don't spend being deducted from next year's budget? For me, every 2 years for the furniture and every year for the end of year funds - even last year after everyone knew that this years monies will be cut... now we can't even afford to buy quality, made in the USA, tools.

Military needs to cut spending. I can afford to pay for my families medical coverage. I have no problem spending more on Tricare once I retire - the co-payments are still hella low vs the other low brow-state govt employee's.

Originally posted by artnut

Wow. My husband is retired, E6. I would not think that your retirement is a whole lot more than my husbands, which is about $1400 a month. I am amazed you can live off of that.... That is barely a mortgage payment!

I'm a minimalist and have no immediate family. So in that regards it can be done.

I'm seriously thinking about getting a RV and continueing my nomadic ways and traveling. For both the adventure and education.

Ya know? Stop for two weeks at any given location and see what's it all about? Just a Border Collie and Maine Coon for companionship.

But no RV dealer has given me any location as to how to get rid of the poo. If they can't give me that info, I'm not buyin'.

I know I can get that info off the web, but if the salesman doesn't know it, as I said, I'm not buyin'.

Gettin' rid of poo is critical stuff. A salesman should know that. Or at least be able to provide the links.

Very few have noticed they've replaced Veterans Affairs clinics with FOR PROFIT ran Veteran Affairs clinics. look up Valor Healthcare.


Rationing healthcare so somebody can fill their personal pockets. Americans have been too stupid to notice. Good going Obama....make sure those Boyz gave you money for your political party............

reply to post by TDawgRex


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Personal Disclosure: @YourOwnRiskOK!

P.S. As to this threads topic ... well simply ..What a Great Country the USA has there! :shk:

Originally posted by Taiyed
Only desperation can explain resurrecting stories from 9 months ago.

It was a mistake, and I thought the article was more recent. And I already admitted this earlier. I am certain we have all made mistakes in our lives at one time or another. Anyways, I bet Obama would work on this one a second time if he were to win.

Originally posted by Pervius
There are 320,000 Americans who have been "Disabled Retired" from the military. Although they are "Retired" they do not get paid.

Since they had less than 20 years of service they can't get paid a military retirement check and VA Disability. So they only get their little VA Disability checks.

If they lose their Tricare, or they have to start paying hyper high Premiums for Tricare, they will end up having to PAY to be military retirees, instead of getting PAID as military retirees.


Which they aren't....getting paid. President Harry Truman moved the Disability Retirement Program from Veterans Affairs when he was President. He moved the program from the VA (Created under the Career Compensation Act long ago) and he moved it under DOD with Executive Order 10122.

The MEGA Billions was then transferred to DOD, and they in turn kept it to fund the military. They don't actually PAY their Disabled Retired. Their only benefit is a blue ID card giving them Tricare healthcare for their family.

Obama takes that away and there's going to be 320,000 disabled Americans who will soon be even poorer. As of right now they aren't even getting enough money to have a roof over their families heads.

edit on 29-10-2012 by Pervius because: (no reason given)

Who told you this? I'm a medically retired Air Force Captian and I get 2 checks a month... 50% military retirement, 100% VA disability. I don't even have to work if I don't want to, but what do I look like at 30 years old and not working at all? Yes, I have to pay for my family's healthcare now... roughly $300.00/mo while I'm covered by VA. Still... 300 out of over $4000.00/mo. or even $1000.00 would be find with me.

reply to post by SilentKillah


Actually a lot of people fall into this catagory. I am retired at 70% from the army (2020.00 per month), and 90% from VA (1780.00) per month. The VA offsets which means they send the money to DoD, DoD adds 240.00 to my VA retirement an I get 2020.00 per month. Thats how it works for a vast majority of people. If you "double dip" meaning you get both retirements, you served 20+ years of active duty. I have 18 years 10 months and 17 days of active duty.

There is another route, which is CRSC (Combat Related Special Compensation). It allows people with a 50% DoD medical retirement and a VA medical rating to "double dip" as well. However, in oder to qualify your medical disabilities must be combat related. As my disabilities are all 100% combat injuries I have filed, but no word back yet. With VA 2 1/2 months behind on my GI Bill money, I'm not holding my breath.

Originally posted by 200Plus
reply to post by SilentKillah

 

Actually a lot of people fall into this catagory. I am retired at 70% from the army (2020.00 per month), and 90% from VA (1780.00) per month. The VA offsets which means they send the money to DoD, DoD adds 240.00 to my VA retirement an I get 2020.00 per month. Thats how it works for a vast majority of people. If you "double dip" meaning you get both retirements, you served 20+ years of active duty. I have 18 years 10 months and 17 days of active duty.

There is another route, which is CRSC (Combat Related Special Compensation). It allows people with a 50% DoD medical retirement and a VA medical rating to "double dip" as well. However, in oder to qualify your medical disabilities must be combat related. As my disabilities are all 100% combat injuries I have filed, but no word back yet. With VA 2 1/2 months behind on my GI Bill money, I'm not holding my breath.

Specifically I was referring to the one sentence "Since they had less than 20 years of service they can't get paid a military retirement check and VA Disability."... I guess I should have stated that. This is not a true statement. I understand your situation... I was on those lines as well receiving 70% VA and getting offset the 20% tax free. However once my VA rebuttal was accepted at 100%, I began receiving the fill 100%. I was medically retired after 6 years, not 20.

Now I'm not saying everyone gets what I lucked out getting, but surely a cut from people in my situation isn't going to hurt as the topic along with that post suggests. Personally I've always believed that I was paid too much for service. Well I wouldn't necessarily say too much... but very generously. Maybe Officer pay should more closely reflect enlisted pay... reduction of benefits there.

EDIT: Good luck with fighting the VA... it may take a while. Took me a year to get my hearing.

So how is Obama suppose to nullify the agreement I have with my local union?

He cant ! ! !

I am a Union Electrician with the I.B.E.W.

Who do you think is working 20 hour days to re energize the electric grid ATM...

Union electricians.

A whole BUNCH of them.

We have ZERO government money subsidizing our union.

How does the president have any right to take away ANY of the benefits we have negotiated in our contracts....

Thats right... HE CANT.

He cannot change a DAM thing.

Maybe the military personnel whom don't like what is coming down the pipe should ORGANIZE and stand together as a GROUP and DEMAND what they deserve instead of just rolling over and taking it up the A$$.

You all seem to forget there is a ALOT of US and FEW of THEM.

But hey keep with the ITS ALL ABOUT ME mindset.

I am sure it will work out well for you in the long run.